3 Days Maasai Mara Safari
from $2,850 per person
This safari is perfect for travelers seeking an unforgettable wildlife experience in Kenya’s iconic Maasai Mara. The reserve is renowned for its abundant wildlife, dramatic savannah landscapes, and exceptional opportunities to see lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, and large herds of plains game. Enjoy exciting game drives, breathtaking scenery, and authentic cultural experiences with the Maasai. The combination of wildlife, nature, and culture makes this one of Kenya’s most rewarding short safari adventures.
Safari Details: 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari
Overview
Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
Destination: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Safari Type: Wildlife, Game Viewing & Cultural Safari
Start Point: Nairobi, Kenya
End Point: Nairobi, Kenya
Main Activities: Game drives, wildlife viewing, safari photography, bird watching, scenic sightseeing and Maasai cultural experiences
Accommodation: Luxury, Mid-range or Budget Safari Lodges & Tented Camps
Best Time to Visit: June to October & January to February
The 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari is an exciting short Kenya safari designed for travelers who want to experience the spectacular wildlife and open savannah landscapes of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Over three days, you will enjoy game drives in search of lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and other African wildlife.
This 3 day Maasai Mara safari offers an ideal introduction to Kenya's famous safari destination without requiring a long itinerary. From Nairobi, you travel to the Maasai Mara for rewarding game drives across its expansive grasslands, where wildlife can often be seen throughout the year. The reserve is particularly well known for its large populations of big cats and plains game.
Depending on your travel dates, the 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari may also provide opportunities to experience seasonal concentrations of wildebeest, zebras and other herbivores associated with the Great Wildebeest Migration. Wildlife sightings are naturally influenced by season, weather and animal movements, so sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Beyond game viewing, this 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari from Nairobi can include a cultural visit to a Maasai community. You can learn about traditional Maasai culture, local livelihoods, crafts and daily life while gaining a deeper understanding of the communities living around the reserve.
Whether you are planning a Maasai Mara safari for 3 days and 2 nights, a short Kenya wildlife holiday, a photography trip, a couple's safari or your first African safari, this itinerary combines game drives, wildlife viewing, spectacular scenery and cultural experiences into a compact safari adventure.
The 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari can be arranged as a budget, mid-range or luxury safari, depending on your preferred accommodation, transport and travel style. The itinerary can also be customized around your interests, including wildlife photography, private game drives, cultural experiences and additional time in Kenya.
Detailed Itinerary: 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi and Transfer to Maasai Mara National Reserve
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your hotel in Nairobi, you will be welcomed by an Ababa Uganda Safaris representative and begin your journey to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife destinations.
The drive takes you through changing landscapes, local communities, farmlands, and the scenic Great Rift Valley. Depending on your departure time, you may stop at viewpoints along the way for photographs and refreshments.
Continue toward the Maasai Mara and arrive at your lodge or tented camp in time to relax. If your arrival and park entry times allow, an optional short afternoon game drive can be arranged.
Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in the Maasai Mara area.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Maasai Mara
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Wake up early for breakfast before setting out on a full-day game drive in the Maasai Mara.
The reserve is renowned for its diverse wildlife and expansive savannah landscapes. During the game drive, you will explore different areas of the reserve in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, and other wildlife.
Your experienced safari guide will help you understand the animals, habitats, and seasonal movements across the Mara ecosystem. Wildlife sightings depend on animal movements, weather, season, and local conditions, so each game drive offers a different experience.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in a designated area before continuing your afternoon exploration.
If you are visiting during the Great Wildebeest Migration, the Mara may also offer opportunities to witness large herds moving through the ecosystem. River crossings and other migration events are seasonal and cannot be guaranteed.
In the late afternoon, return to your lodge or camp for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp in Maasai Mara
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Morning Game Drive, Maasai Cultural Experience and Return to Nairobi
Wake up early for a final morning game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The early hours provide another opportunity to explore the savannah while many animals are active. Continue searching for wildlife and enjoy the changing morning scenery before returning to your lodge for breakfast.
After breakfast, you may visit a Maasai community for an optional cultural experience. Depending on the arrangement, you can learn about traditional Maasai culture, daily life, crafts, dances, and the community's relationship with the surrounding landscape.
After the cultural experience, begin your journey back to Nairobi.
Arrive in Nairobi later in the day, where your 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari comes to an end. You can be dropped off at your hotel or transferred to the airport for your onward journey, depending on your travel arrangements.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Trip Includes
- Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off in Nairobi
- Private or shared safari transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of an experienced English-speaking safari guide/driver
- 2 nights' accommodation in the Maasai Mara area
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Maasai Mara National Reserve entry fees
- Full-day and morning game drives as outlined in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during game drives
- Optional Maasai cultural visit, where included in the package
- All applicable government taxes and service charges
Trip Excludes
-
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya visa and entry requirements
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic and other premium drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers, lodge staff, and other service providers
- Optional activities not specified in the itinerary
- Maasai village or cultural fees where charged separately
- Laundry services
- Souvenirs and personal shopping
- Any additional accommodation before or after the safari
- Expenses arising from changes to the itinerary or activities not included in the package
- Anything not specifically mentioned under “Includes”
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What our travelers say
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Robert KVerified
Bucket list seeing the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Just an awesome trip . Everything went smoothly from booking to the end . All was as promised never missed anything , always on time , friendly etc. resort that was recommended was perfect , great food , comfortable . Saw the gorillas easily all was perfect . Jonathan the owner even took me in Kampala to buy the right clothes , took me him self . Noel and driver were excellent , never an issue they really cared. I trust this company , will use them again and highly recommend .![]()
Maltes TravellerVerified
Highly recommended We had a wonderful experience with Jonathan. He welcomed us at the airport and took great care of us from the moment we arrived until the end of our trip. The selection of hotels was impeccable, and the route he designed was perfectly planned. Jonathan is extremely knowledgeable about wildlife and went the extra mile to make sure we saw lions and all of the Big Five during our visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. He was always attentive, patient, and eager to make our experience unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide — highly recommended!![]()
bharti nVerified
Exceptional experience, enriching and truly unforgettable. From the moment we landed we received a warm welcome. Jonathan was friendly and readily available to answer any queries throughout our trip. He was incredibly accommodating with our requests to visit schools, residences ensuring that we achieved everything we wanted from the trip. We had a great time with Jonathan and driver Isaac. Jonathan was very funny and very knowledgeable he became part of the family and the time just flew whilst we were there, we felt safe at all times. The food at each venue catered for all our needs. Definitely leant a lot on this trip. Just need to be aware that food ordered in restaurants do take a long time as they make it from scratch so if pushed for time might be advisable to pre order. We had unforgettable holiday and this company went above and beyond to make every moment special. I would recommend them to anyone.![]()
vjparVerified
Great service from this local company We done a road trip across East Africa from Uganda to Tanzania. Jonathan and his team facilitated our trip across Uganda and Kenya which proved to be a very enjoyable experience. Guided knowledge provided by Jonathan was excellent as was his humor and wit. We always felt safe and informed, he managed the journey very well indeed. We would definitely use Jonathan's services again.![]()
Adam John SmithVerified
Magical Uganda Safari Journey – February 2025! I had an unforgettable experience with Ababa Uganda Safaris! From the moment I arrived, everything was well-organized, and the team was incredibly friendly and professional. The tour guides were knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights about the wildlife and culture. Seeing gorillas up close in Bwindi and exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park was a dream come true. The accommodations were comfortable, and every detail was taken care of. I truly felt immersed in Uganda’s beauty without any stress. If you're planning a trip to Uganda, I highly recommend Ababa Uganda Safaris for a seamless and memorable adventure!![]()
MadhviVerified
.gorilla trek Our KQ flight was horribly delayed. From 2.30 pm to arriving @ almost 3 am the following day. Jonathan kindly arranged for airport pick at this early hour of day and even rescheduled our departure for bwindi so we could get some rest. That was very accommodating.the drive to bwindi was a long drive -11 hrs- n he informed hotel of our late arrival. The lodge he chose for us was good and comfortable. However the vehicle for transporti g us could be better as it was quite hot without air conditioning. Gorilla trek was good but tough. Overall Ababa safaris were very accommodating. I wouldrecommend them. The hotel in Kampala- Speke hotel leaves a lot to be desired![]()
mo-marvinVerified
Such a wonderful experience!! My family and I contacted Jonathan to help us plan our first Murchison Falls safari. Jonathan arranged our transport from Kampala, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and guided game drives through Murchison falls. Ronnie, our professional driver and guide, was very knowledgeable and paid close attention to details to make us comfortable. He met with us a day before takeoff to answer any outstanding questions and recommended a time for us to set off to avoid any traffic. His experience made our trip even more enjoyable because we knew what to expect for entry fees into the park, where to stop to use clean washrooms, eat good food, and also what side of the boat cruise to sit on for the best views! We saw lions, elephants, giraffes, job, rhinos, buffaloes and many other animals. We would definitely go with them for our next safari in Uganda! They had great communication, value for money, professionalism, knowledge of the industry and were very reliable.![]()
Katelyn OVerified
A must-hire company! Punctual, professional, great communication. We used Ababa Safaris for a trip from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. I would HIGHLY recommend! Our driver picked us up in a large safari vehicle with a pop up roof. The driver was very punctual and had excellent communication while preparing for the trip and during the trip. Ronnie took us to a nice restaurant for a rest stop that had clean bathrooms and good food. He was friendly with many people we met along the way at the Rhino Sanctuary, on the safari trails, and at our chosen lodging. It felt as though he had good connections with people, which we took as a good sign. Ronnie was very knowledgeable about the best places to see the animals and gave us a great safari experience. As the person in the family who does much of the planning, it was a very enjoyable experience to hand all of that over to Ababa and really get to enjoy myself.![]()
HoehlenhonkVerified
Animals and beautiful nature in Uganda and Rwanda From being picked-up from Entebbe airport in the middle of the night until the drop-off eleven days later in Kigali it was a perfect tour. Jonathan, our guide, and the driver Moses was a perfect team - very friendly, knowledgable and always in time. We visited Entebbe for a tour through the botanical gardens and the zoo, did safaris and boat trips in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP and did trekkings to the chimpazees in Kibale and to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The primates are a must visit when you travel to this region. It's expensive but worth every dollar. The safari parks are of course not as rich in animals as for example the Masai Mara. But they are much cheaper, there are much lesser tourists and nevertheless it doesn't become boring regarding animal sightings. We saw a lot of different antelopes, beautiful giraffes, lions, many elephants, buffalos, a lot of hippos and crocodiles and much more. The choice of hotels was very good, simple and cheap where there was only a short overnight stay and a bit more expensive where it was worth to spend the money for staying close to the places of interest, e.g. close to the starting point for primate trekkings or in the middle of QENP and Murchison NP for not loosing game-drive-time.![]()
Dilip PVerified
UGANDA SAFARI WITH ABABA We had a nice holiday with ABABA SAFARI in Uganda it was a nice experience in Uganda and the travel agent as well especially Jonathan was our tour guide very nice person he was always very helpful and kind. we traveled about 1200km but had no problem I am a vegetarian and wherever we go he always arranges something for me i recommend them at and competitive price I give them a 5-star






